Murtaza Dahodwala

Necks craned in search of a face, the face of a person that Aqa Maula (TUS) mentioned during ashara mubaraka, Mumbai. Some spotted him and some didn't. A man in the row of mashaikh, sitting upright, grateful and glowing at what he had just heard. Murtaza Dahodwala…Aqa Maula (TUS) had mentioned that he had donated a generous sum, for the Saifee Hospital, and had showered him with pearls of dua.
Misbah decided to contact him and publish his story in this issue. Here is what he has to say:

What is the work that you do? Your company does?

I am President & CEO of Starent Networks and NuLink, Inc. Starent has developed a product that allows mobile carriers (like Verizon Wireless and Sprint) to support voice and high-speed data connection on cellphones and computers. NuLink is a 100% export entity, based in Pune, India, that provides software development services.

I've heard that the cable Internet was your brainchild. Can you tell me something about it?

I invented the technology for the cable modem. A cable modem allows computers to be connected to a cable TV network and send and receive information at high speeds. Our initial customers were government agencies and as the Internet grew, the consumer market expanded very rapidly. This product was developed at the first company I started, with the raza mubarak of Aqa Maula (TUS), after I graduated from Harvard Business School.

You donated a generous sum for the Saifee Hospital and Aqa Maula (TUS) during Ashara Mubaraka showered you with dua. How did you feel?

I didn't expect it. I was flabbergasted. It was a very emotional moment that my family and I will forever treasure. My wife, Lamiya, and I feel that there's nothing we can do in this world to express shukr for Aqa Maula's (TUS) dua on such an auspicious event. Both of us feel an immense sense of ahsaan because what Aqa Maula (TUS) showered on us is immeasurably greater than our deed. This immensity is further multiplied since our action was inspired by Aqa Maula (TUS) himself and what he exemplifies.

Living in the west, and with your work, how do you manage to stay in touch with dawat and do khidmat?

The key is to stay connected with our way of life. It is important to be involved in activities of our community and attend all our events as a family. Moreover, our organization that reaches out to all of us throughout the world during Moharram and Ramadan is vital in maintaining a solid link. In recent times, the frequent broadcasts of Aqa Maula's bayaan plays an important role in keeping us all connected. It is also the source of inspiration to spur us into doing khidmat.

Lastly, I am driven by Aqa Maula's (TUS) focus on the younger generation in his many bayaans. I agree that we will not only be measured by how we stay on the right course, but also, by our success in keeping the next generation on the right course. That message is a very strong motivator for me to stay involved in the madrassa as a teacher. In that role, I get the opportunity to understand the needs of the younger generation and to help them stay on the right path.

Is your work conducive to the khidmat of dawat? Or is your work in conflict with dawat?

The two are in conflict at times, but are also inter-dependent. The conflict comes from time demanded by my work schedule. There is much more I would like to do for our dawat, but I am constrained by my work schedule. This conflict is most pronounced during the month of Ramadan when I am unable to travel. Everyone at my work knows not to schedule any travel for me unless it is absolutely imperative for me to travel for business during that month.

The interdependence is much greater and very positive. I believe that my success with my work is a direct result of my khidmat and the dua mubarak of Aqa Maula (TUS). The reward of that success affords me the opportunity to do more khidmat. It is a cycle and at the core is niyyat, which within us is inspired by Aqa Maula (TUS).

Are the IT concepts that you have conceived helpful to the dawat? How?

My whole professional career has been devoted to develop technologies and products that allow us to communicate faster and better. That improves our productivity, but also, allows us to be connected as a group. I think that helps dawat. One example is the ubiquitous and high-speed access to the Internet that makes a lot of information about the dawat available to all of us. It is not only a great educational tool, but it also, keeps us informed about the happenings within our global community. Another, more powerful example, is the live broadcast of Aqa Maula's (TUS) waaz and the high-speed distribution of audio and video recordings across the Internet. It is a very effective tool to get the message across to all of us around the world.